Chapter 80 - DINNER WITH ROMAN

Jessica's Pov"You're really going?"I looked up from my phone and found Rolda standing across the kitchen with her arms folded. Her eyes laced to mine."Yes," I answered calmly, my eyes on hers."After what happened last night?" Rolda reminded me.I sighed and placed my phone on the table. "Rolly, nothing was taken," I responded with assurance."Someone still broke into our house," Rolda started."I know.""And you're going out tonight with a man you barely trust," She questioned, her voice louder now."It's not a date," I mentioned firmly. "That's what you said yesterday," Rolda reminded me, her eyes a clear indication that she didn't believe any words I had said.I gave her a tired look. "It's a networking dinner."Rolda walked toward me and pulled out the chair opposite mine."With Roman," She pointed out."Yes."She stared at me for a few seconds before shaking her head."I don't like him," She muttered."You've never liked him," I responded, my lips curled up to a brief smile.

CHAPTER 81- THE BLACK SEDAN

Three words lit up the screen after few seconds."Are you safe?No hello. It was Jake again, asking a question he had no right to ask in the middle of a dinner he'd told me to skip.I turned the phone face down. Then I turned it over again and typed with my thumb."I'm fine. Dinner's almost over." I replied. I sent it before I could add anything that sounded like I was reporting to him.When I looked up, Roman was watching my hands."Good news?" he asked."It's nothing," I said quickly."Your face changed when you read it." He lifted his glass of water and took his time with it. "I only know one person who does that to you," He chipped in.I slid the phone into my bag. Saying nothing felt safer than lying badly.Roman set the glass down and turned it a quarter turn on the tablecloth. "I won't tell you what to do about him," He uttered calmly."Good," I added."But be careful who you trust, Jessica," Roman continued.I almost laughed. "That's a strange thing to hear from a man who's b

Chapter 81- The Drive Home

Jake's POVShe hadn't touched the seat belt yet.I noticed because I was trying very hard not to notice anything else. Her perfume, which hadn't changed in two years. The way she held her bag in her lap like someone might grab it, and even the business card sticking out between her fingers, bent at the corner where she'd been gripping it."Belt," I said, and then heard myself. "Sorry. That came out wrong," I said quickly."It's fine." She pulled it across and clicked it in. "It was a belt."I pulled away from the curb. For two blocks neither of us talked. My head filled with thoughts I didn't have the boldness to say. I look at Jessica and noticed how quiet she was which was completely unusual."You said black, four doors," Jessica started, her eyes on me now.I kept my eyes on the road. "I did.""Before I told you what it looked like," She added, her eyes burning with confusion."I know.""How?" She questioned.There were three ways I could have answered, and two of them were lies dr

Chapter 82- The Car At The Door

Jessica's POVRolda burned the first pancake and dropped it in the bin without a word.I sat at the table in her old college sweatshirt with my hair still wet and my feet on the chair. Through the window I could see the grey car parked two houses down. The man inside had a real newspaper, folded in quarters, and he turned the page like he had all day.My phone buzzed on the table, I picked it up and it was a message from Jake."Nothing new overnight. Marcus has nothing yet. Telling you before you ask."I read it twice and pressed my hand over my mouth."What?" Rolda turned with the spatula in the air, her eyes burning with expectation."Nothing," I said calming, shaking mt head at her."That's your nothing face." She crossed the kitchen, tilted the phone toward her with one finger and read it. "He's reporting to you like an intern.""I told him to," I responded."You told him to." She slid a pancake onto my plate. "Did you tell him to write it like that? Who talks like that at seven i

Chapter 83 - Linda's Warning

Jessica's POVI looked clearly at the woman and it was Linda. Of all the people I could have found on my stool at eight in the morning, she was the last one I wanted.She sat like the lobby had been built around her, one leg crossed over the other, a camel coat hanging off her shoulders. A paper cup from the café on the corner stood by her elbow with the lid still on. She hadn't touched it."What are you doing here, Linda?" I asked professionally, I was clearly displeased on seeing her.She took her time. Her eyes went from my shoes to my blazer to my hair, which I'd twisted up in the taxi without a mirror."You look well," she said. "Rested, almost. That's interesting, after the week you've had," She described, her words laced with mockery."I'm not doing this," I replied with certainty."Doing what?" She questioned quietly."Whatever this is. If you came here to talk about Jake, you're wasting your time," I countered sternly. I knew her games by now. First the compliment, then the

All Chapters of When I Stopped Running : Chapter 81 - Chapter 85

Chapter 80 - DINNER WITH ROMAN

CHAPTER 81- THE BLACK SEDAN

Chapter 81- The Drive Home

Chapter 82- The Car At The Door

Chapter 83 - Linda's Warning